Around 10,000 new posts needed for oil sector

Around 10,000 new roles need to be created in the oil and gas industry over the next two decades to keep up with the changing demands of the sector, according to a new report.

Energy skills body Opito said more than 40,000 new recruits will be required.

A quarter of those will be needed to fill emerging digital roles that do not exist today in areas such as data analytics, data science, robotics and remote operations.

The research, undertaken in partnership with Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Oil and Gas Institute, also found more than 80,000 workers are likely to retire or leave the sector for other reasons by 2035.

It means the workforce will total 130,000 compared to the current 170,000.

John Mcdonald, chief executive officer of Opito, said: “As the industry emerges from the downturn, it is crucial that we take a longer term look at the future UK oil and gas skills requirements.”